2017 World of Montgomery County Festival

The World of Montgomery Festival celebrates the many cultures of the DC area with traditional arts, multicultural music, food, dance, and hands-on activities at Montgomery College Rockville held Sunday, October 15th, 2017, from noon to 4:00pm. The festival promotes cross-cultural understanding by highlighting the cultural diversity of the DC area through immersive activities and performances.

Festival attendees participated in a wide variety of traditional arts — like berimbau instrument-making demoed by the Brazilian Espaço Cultural Samba Trovão, or Kolam painting (using rice flour or powdered rock) by apprentices of master artist Shanthi Chandra Sekar. Other traditional arts on display included material arts, performance, ritual, or ceremony.

This year’s festival theme is “harvest.” Adults and children pulled raw cotton into thread, experience a traditional coffee ceremony in the Ethiopia tent, pestle seeds from grain in the China tent, learn to make papyrus in the Egyptian tent, or make burlap bags to hold coffee in the Jamaica tent. Thailand, Egypt, Turkey, Germany, Korea, Barbados, Jamaica, India, Ukraine, El Salvador, Ethiopia, China, and other countries will represent their cultural traditions--each with hands-on activities--in the International Village at World of Montgomery, which is organized by KID Museum. Other entertainment at the festival included a Parade of Cultures that included two stages of performances, ethnic food vendors, and more for the whole family.

KID Museum’s harvest-related interactive activities include several communal projects: weaving a giant basket; drilling and assembling a giant drum; creating a mosaic using rice, beans, wheat, and other harvest materials; and “harvesting gratitude” by inviting participants to help build a communal art project centered on what they are grateful for.

South Korea, which is being designated with a Montgomery County Sister City this November,  featured harvest moon dancers, a display of songpyeon (traditional rice cakes), and games, such as the harvest ceremony gamejegichagi, similar to American hacky sack. There will also be performances of the Korean Fan Dance by Sarah Peace Mission Korean Dance Team.

The World of Montgomery Festival promotes cultural appreciation and tolerance in young people through fun, educational, hands-on experiences.
The World of Montgomery Festival is presented by the Fund for Montgomery, Montgomery County, KID Museum, Montgomery College, City of Rockville, Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland State Arts Council, Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships, Montgomery County Sister Cities, Carl M. Freeman Foundation, Southern Management, Pepco, Comcast, Anna G. Mendez University, Verizon, ABC7, News Channel 8, The Washington Post, MCM, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington Parent.
 
Fund for Montgomery sponsors include: Ana G. Mendez University, BioHealth Innovations, City of Rockville, Comcast, Community Foundation in Montgomery County, Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County, County Executive Ike Leggett, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Johns Hopkins University, Lerch, Early & Brewer, Marriott, Montgomery College, Montgomery County Muslim Foundation, Pepco, SG Enterprise/Sol Graham, The Sanford and Doris Slavin Foundation, Social & Scientific Systems, Southern Management, Strathmore, Text Design, United Therapeutics, Universities at Shady Grove, Washington Gas.